Library display salutes League of Women Voters

During March, visitors to the East Greenbush Community Library are being greeted at the entrance by two window displays honoring Women's History Month and the suffragette movement.

Installed by the Rensselaer County League of Women Voters, the exhibits were designed by Anne Burton, public relations director of the League and a resident of Rensselaer. The items range from old photos of women marching for the right to vote to a doll made up like Susan B. Anthony, the legendary 19th century campaigner for women's rights.

"I saw the doll at the League's state offices," Burton said, and it inspired her to assemble an array of items, which also includes sashes worn by suffragettes and commemorative plates. There is also a photo of Beulah Bailey Thull, the first president of the Rensselaer League.

Thull, who worked for the New York State Department of Audit and Control, was involved in many civic organizations in Rensselaer County, including the Campfire Girls.

In 1946, Thull spoke at a meeting of the Troy League of Women Voters and assured them that the City of Troy, which had been in financial straits, was "once again on a sound basis." Other issues on the table of that meeting were atomic weapons and fair salaries for teachers, demonstrative of the wide interests of the League's membership then and now.

Given such a variety, Burton said, "I try to make the display different each year. My hope is that it will raise awareness of the history women have made."

The progress of women, she continued, "has taken a really long time. We've come a long way and have some way still to go." Giving examples, she added, "Our pay is still less than men's, and the Equal Rights Amendment never passed in New York State."

Burton said she is "grateful that the library gave so much space to the display. The library also helps us with voter registration efforts and in so many other ways."

The display will be on view at the Brunswick Community Library in April.